Device for operating a toilet seat and a toilet seat provided therewith

ABSTRACT

A device for operating a toilet seat has a user-operated unit for lifting toilet seat; and a timer operative for lowering the toilet seat after elapsing of a predeterminded time from a time point when the seat was lifted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to devices for operating toiletseats.

[0002] Toilet seats are known and used to support user while sitting onthe toilet bowl. It is known that when a male is about to urinate, hehas to lift the seat so that drops of urine do not fall on the toiletseat. Then, after he finishes urinating, he has to place the toilet seatback into its horizontal position, so that another user, for example afemale can sit on the toilet seat in its horizontal position.

[0003] Frequently, the male users do not lift the seats and the seat iscontaminated by urine, or when they lift the seat they frequently forgetto lower the seat to the horizontal position, which causesdissatisfaction from the female users.

[0004] It is believed that it is advisable to provide toilets withimproved lifting and lowering of the toilet seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea device for lifting and lowering of a toilet seat which improvesoperation of the toilet seat, in particular lifting the toilet seat andits lowering afterwards.

[0006] In keeping with these objects and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one-feature of the present invention resides,briefly stated, in a device for operating a toilet seat, which has auser-operated means for lifting toilet seat; and timer means operativefor lowering the toilet seat after elapsing of a predeterminted timefrom a time point when the seat was lifted.

[0007] The present invention also deals with a toilet seat comprising aseat part; and a device for operating said seat including auser-operated means for lifting a toilet seat; and timer means operativefor lowering the toilet seat after elapsing of a predeterminted timefrom a time point when the seat was lifted.

[0008] When the device is designed and the toilet seat is designed inaccordance with the present invention, then a male user manually liftsthe seat without touching it and the timer means after a certain timeautomatically lowers the seat to its horizontal position for asubsequent use.

[0009] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a toilet bowl with a seat and a devicefor operating the seat; and

[0011]FIG. 2 is a front view of the toilet bowl, the seat and theinvented device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012]FIGS. 1 and 2 are views showing a toilet bowl which is identifiedas whole with reference numeral 1. The toilet bowl is provided with awell-known seat which is identified as reference 2 and is movablebetween a lifted position and a lowered position. In the lower position,the seat is coextensive with the upper surface of the toilet bowl 1 sothat the user can sit on the toilet seat.

[0013] In accordance with the present invention, a device is providedfor operating the toilet seat 2 and is identified with reference numeral3. The inventive device 3 for operating a toilet seat 2 is first of alla manually-operated lifting unit. The manually-operated lifting unit canbe composed for example a pneumatic element formed for example as an airpump 4 which is connected by an air pipe 6 to an actuating element 7connected to the toilet seat. The actuating element 7 can be formed forexample as an air tubing with a plurality of vanes and a shaft connectedto the lower edge of the seat. When a user activates the pneumatic pump,air is supplied through the pipe to the tubing, towards the vanes of thetubing to turn the vanes and therefore the shaft of the tubing, and theshaft rotates and pivots the seat from the horizontal position to avertical or at least inclined position. In the position when the seat 2is lifted, a male user can urinate without contaminating the seat.

[0014] To prevent the situation that the user forgets to lower the seat,a further mechanism 8 is provided for automatically lowering the seatafter a predetermined time after the use of the toilet. The mechanism 8includes a timer which is identified as reference numeral 9 and anactuating element 10 which can be formed for example as a miniatureelectric motor.

[0015] When a certain time has passed, it is sensed by the timer, thetimer activates the electric motor, the electric motor rotates its shaftconnected to the seat, and the shaft turns the seat from its liftedposition to its lowered position.

[0016] In accordance with the present invention, the timer can startcounting time after the seat 2 is lifted. For this purpose, for examplea sensor 11 can be connected to the timer and sense the presence of theseat in its lifted position, and therefore activate the timer to startcounting.

[0017] When the device is designed in accordance with the presentinvention, then the user manually, for example by his foot, activatesthe mechanism for lifting the seat and the seat 2 is lifted so that amale user can urinate in a standing position, and thereafter thelowering mechanism provides lowering of the seat after a predeterminedtime.

[0018] Also suction cups can be provided on the lower surface of thetoilet seat.

[0019] It will be understood that each of the elements described above,or two or more together, may also find a useful application in othertypes of constructions and methods differing from the types describedabove.

[0020] While the invention has been illustrated and described asembodied in a device for operating a toilet seat and a toilet seatprovided therewith, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0021] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal thegist of the present invention that others can, by applying currentknowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of thisinvention.

[0022] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by LettersPatent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. A device for operating a toilet seat, comprising user-operated meansfor lifting a toilet seat; and timer means operative for lowering thetoilet seat after elapsing of a predeterminted time from a time pointwhen the seat was lifted.
 2. A device for operating a toilet seat asdefined in claim 1, wherein said user-operated means for lifting isformed as manually operated means.
 3. A device for operating a toiletseat as defined in claim 1, wherein said timer means is formed so thatsaid timer means is activated and start counting time after said liftingmeans lift said toilet seat.
 4. A device for operating a toilet seat asdefined in claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of suction cupsprovided on the toilet seat.
 5. A toilet seat, comprising a toilet seatand a device for operating said toilet seat, said device for operatingsaid toilet seat including a user-operated means for lifting said toiletseat, and timer means operative for lowering the toilet seat afterelapsing of a predetermined time from a time point when the seat waslifted.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said user-operatedmeans for lifting is formed as manually operated means.
 7. A device asdefined in claim 5, wherein said timer means is formed so that saidtimer means is activated and start counting time when said lifting meanslift said toilet seat.
 8. A device as defined in claim 5; and furthercomprising a plurality of suction cups provided on the toilet seat.